Members of Up 'til Dawn learned of the group's fate Wednesday as Ball State University cut all ties with the student philanthropy that benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Megan Johnson and four other members of the group's executive board were told in what they were told would be a formal meeting regarding how the group felt they've worked through the Office of Student Life.
What resulted was three members of the office giving letters, signed by Tiffany Washington, assistant director of student life, to the executive members. The letters were neatly folded into Ball State envelopes and began telling how 'amazing' the group had been in raising money for St. Jude. But, what Johnson read next rendered her speechless.
'However, the Office of Student Life regrets to inform you that we will be discontinuing our affiliation with the Up 'til Dawn philanthropy, effective immediately following the Finale," the letter stated. "The decision to terminate the program is final. At this time Ball State would like to focus on the demands of Dance Marathon program."
Johnson said she wasn't sure how to react.
"We didn't know what to do and we didn't know what to say," Johnson said. "We were crying, upset and we still don't have a good reason to why it has happened."
Lynda Wiley, Director of Student Life, said she was one of the people who made the final decision.
"The group never really took hold in terms of real student interest," she said. "It never really had the initial start of having a consistent group of students buy into it every year. A lot of people that were involved wanted to work hard, but we weren't getting that from students outside the organization."
Washington said Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority already has St. Jude as one of its philanthropies. She said 75 to 80 percent of participants in Up 'til Dawn letter writing campaign, which raised more than $17,000 for St. Jude, are already members of ESA. The office has not approached ESA about taking over Up 'til Dawn, Washington said.
Johnson said 64 members of the group are in ESA. However, discontinuing the group leaves out any male member, strong Spectrum participation, anybody in the non-greek community and eight members of executive board, she said.
"[Student Life's position is] an unfair assessment of our organization," Johnson said. "I think that's unfortunate that student life hasn't expressed those concerns to us before."
Washington said the university appreciates it's relationship with the St. Jude's staff and they completely support the decision that was made knowing that they will receive continual support from members of the university.
"Putting monies together to support one great cause can provide a very positive and powerful impact," Washington said.
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